DealStays guide
Maldives hidden costs in 2026: what's not in the headline price
Last updated · 2026-07-01
This guide breaks down every hidden cost with real numbers so you can budget accurately before booking.
The three taxes on every Maldives resort bill
These apply to every tourist, at every resort, regardless of how you booked or which platform you used.
Tourism GST (TGST) — 17%: increased from 16% on 1 July 2025. Applied to your room rate, food, drinks, spa, excursions, minibar and every other chargeable item.
Service charge — 10%: mandatory by law, applied to the same items as TGST. This is not a tip — it is distributed to resort staff. TGST and service charge are calculated on the base price separately; they do not compound on each other.
Green tax — $12 per person per night: doubled from $6 on 1 January 2025. Children aged 2 and over pay the full $12 — only infants under 2 are exempt.
There is no tourist VAT or GST refund scheme in the Maldives. These taxes are final.
Worked example: what a $500 per night villa actually costs
Imagine a resort advertising a villa at $500 per night (base rate) for two adults staying seven nights. That "$500 villa" actually costs $659 per night once taxes and green tax are applied — a 32% increase. The same percentages apply to everything else you spend at the resort.
| Cost item | Calculation | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Room (7 nights × $500) | Base rate | $3,500 |
| TGST at 17% | $3,500 × 0.17 | $595 |
| Service charge at 10% | $3,500 × 0.10 | $350 |
| Green tax (2 adults × 7 nights × $12) | Flat rate | $168 |
| Room total | $4,613 |
Transfer costs
Transfers to your resort island are rarely included in the headline hotel price. Seaplane transfers only operate during daylight hours (roughly 6am–4pm). If your international flight arrives after dark, you may need to overnight near Malé Airport — an additional $100–$250.
Some resorts quote transfer prices inclusive of taxes. Others list them ++ (plus taxes and service charge). Confirm the all-in transfer cost before booking.
| Transfer type | Typical cost (per person, return) | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Speedboat | $150–$300 | Resorts within 60–80km of Malé |
| Seaplane | $400–$850 | Remote atolls, 80–250km from Malé |
| Domestic flight + speedboat | $250–$600 | Very remote southern atolls |
Food and drink costs outside your meal plan
Because every resort is a private island, you eat and drink at the resort or not at all. Even non-alcoholic drinks can be expensive if not included. Add 27% (TGST + service charge) to all prices below.
Premium restaurants — underwater dining, teppanyaki, private beach dinners — usually carry a surcharge even for all-inclusive guests, ranging from $50 to $300+ per person.
| Item | Typical price (before tax) |
|---|---|
| Bottled water | $5–$8 |
| Fresh juice | $8–$15 |
| Coffee / cappuccino | $6–$10 |
| Cocktail | $18–$30 |
| Glass of wine | $15–$25 |
| Beer | $8–$15 |
Excursion and activity costs
| Activity | Typical cost per person |
|---|---|
| Dolphin sunset cruise | $50–$100 |
| Sandbank picnic | $80–$200 |
| Guided snorkelling trip | $40–$80 |
| Single scuba dive | $80–$150 |
| Fishing trip | $100–$250 |
| Sunset sailing | $60–$120 |
| Spa treatment (60 min) | $150–$350 |
The departure day cost nobody mentions
Many travellers check out, transfer back to Malé, and face a 6 to 8-hour wait for a late-night flight. A day room at a hotel near Velana International Airport typically costs $150–$250 and gives you a pool, shower and comfortable place to wait.
How to reduce hidden costs
- Choose all-inclusive for most first-time visitors staying five nights or more
- Check what all-inclusive actually covers — bottled water, premium restaurants, minibar, watersports
- Choose a speedboat resort for shorter stays — saves $300–$500 per person vs seaplane
- Book during May to October for 30–50% room discounts
- Ask for the total price including taxes, service charge, green tax and transfers — not just the nightly rate
Maldives resorts to compare on total cost
Use these resorts as a starting point — the headline rate is only part of the bill once taxes, green tax and transfers are added.
Bandos Maldives
North Malé Atoll, around 20 minutes by speedboat
A genuinely mid-range option by Maldives standards, with a kids' club and all-inclusive choices that make it one of the more accessible family resorts on this list.
Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives
South Ari Atoll, around 25 minutes by seaplane
Runs a Premium All-Inclusive plan and is consistently recommended for families, with a wide spread of dining and pool facilities to back it up.
Velassaru Maldives
South Malé Atoll, around 20 minutes by speedboat
A solid all-inclusive option for couples who want a shorter transfer than most luxury resorts without dropping resort standard.
DealStays verdict
Budget for TGST, service charge and green tax on top of every advertised rate. Add transfers, meal-plan gaps and excursions before you compare resorts. A resort that looks cheaper per night may cost more once a distant island and seaplane transfer are factored in.
Related pages
Frequently asked questions
- How much is the Maldives green tax in 2026?
- $12 per person per night, doubled from $6 in January 2025. This applies to all guests aged 2 and over at every resort island. For two adults staying seven nights, the green tax alone adds $168 to the bill.
- What percentage do Maldives taxes add to the bill?
- Tourism GST (TGST) at 17% plus a mandatory service charge of 10% adds 27% to every item on your resort bill — room rate, food, drinks, spa, excursions and everything else. Combined with the $12 per person per night green tax, a $500 per night villa for two adults actually costs around $660 per night.
- Are transfers included in Maldives hotel prices?
- Rarely. Speedboat transfers cost $150 to $300 per person return. Seaplane transfers cost $400 to $850 per person return. Domestic flight plus speedboat costs $250 to $600 per person return. These are almost never included in the headline hotel price.
- Is all-inclusive worth it in the Maldives?
- For most travellers, yes. Because you are on a private island with no alternative dining options, paying separately for meals and drinks — which are subject to 27% in taxes and service charge — can easily exceed the cost of upgrading to all-inclusive.